Devices and methods for controlling transmitter power supply based on wireless receiver request

Abstract

Devices and methods for controlling a power supply of a wireless power transmitter based on the request of a wireless power receiver are disclosed. One embodiment provides a wireless power receiver. The wireless power receiver includes a power receiver circuit configured to receive power from a wireless power transmitter at a level sufficient to power or charge a load. The wireless power receiver also includes a processor circuit configured to adjust a level of the received power being provided to the load based on a change in a level of received power to be requested to the wireless power transmitter. The processor circuit is further configured send to the wireless power transmitter the request to change the level of the received power to a first different level.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless power receiver, comprising:
 a power receiver circuit configured to receive power from a wireless power transmitter at a level sufficient to power or charge a load; and 
 a processor circuit configured to adjust a level of current being provided to the load based on a change in a level of received power to be requested to the wireless power transmitter, and send to the wireless power transmitter the request to change a present current level of the received power to a first different level. 
 
     
     
       2. The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to compare the current level of the received power with a threshold power value and wherein the adjustment of the level of the current being provided to the load is further based on the comparison. 
     
     
       3. The receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power measurement circuit configured to measure the current level of the received power and provide the measured power level to the processor circuit; and 
 a communication circuit configured to send to the wireless power transmitter the request to change the current level of the received power to the first different level under the control of the processor circuit. 
 
     
     
       4. The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the request to change the current level of the received power comprises a request to increase or decrease the current level of the received power without indicating a power level to be adjusted. 
     
     
       5. The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the power receiver circuit comprises:
 a rectifier circuit configured to rectify the received power and output a direct current (DC) power; and 
 a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) configured to receive the DC power and provide the received DC power to the load. 
 
     
     
       6. The receiver of  claim 5 , wherein the load comprises a battery connected to a battery charger and at least one system component, and wherein the processor circuit is further configured to control the PMIC to adjust an amount of the current flowing into the battery charger and/or the system component to adjust an output voltage of the rectifier circuit. 
     
     
       7. The receiver of  claim 6 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to control the PMIC to adjust an amount of the current flowing into the battery charger based at least in part on a power requirement of the system component to adjust an output voltage of the rectifier circuit. 
     
     
       8. The receiver of  claim 7 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to control the PMIC to discharge the battery, when the amount of power required by the system component is greater than an entire amount of the received power received from the wireless power transmitter. 
     
     
       9. The receiver of  claim 6 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to control the PMIC to adjust the level of the current flowing only into the battery charger to adjust an output voltage of the rectifier circuit. 
     
     
       10. The receiver of  claim 6 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to control the PMIC based at least in part on the level of the received power, an operation range of the rectifier circuit, a charging state of the battery and/or a power requirement of the system component. 
     
     
       11. The receiver of  claim 5 , wherein the rectifier circuit has an operation range, and wherein the threshold power value comprises a power value selected from the operation range of the rectifier circuit. 
     
     
       12. The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to receive information from the wireless power transmitter regarding a type of a power supply that supplies the power to the wireless power transmitter. 
     
     
       13. The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the power receiver circuit is further configured to receive power having the first different level from the wireless power transmitter, and wherein the processor circuit is further configured to compare the first different level with the threshold power value, adjust an amount of the current being provided to the load based at least in part on the comparison, and send to the wireless power transmitter a request to change the first different level to a second different level. 
     
     
       14. A method of receiving wireless power, comprising:
 wirelessly receiving power from a transmitter at a level sufficient to power or charge a load; 
 providing the received power to the load; 
 comparing the level of the received power with a threshold power value; 
 adjusting a level of current being provided to the load based at least in part on the comparison; and 
 sending to the transmitter a request to change the level of the received power to a different power level subsequent to the adjusting the level of the current. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sending comprises sending a request to increase or decrease a level of the received power without indicating a power level to be adjusted. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 rectifying, at a rectifier circuit, the received power and output a direct current (DC) power; and 
 providing the DC power to the load. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the load comprises a battery connected to a battery charger and at least one system component, and wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting an amount of the current to adjust an output voltage of the rectifier circuit. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the adjusting comprises discharging the battery, when the amount of power required by the system component is greater than an entire amount of the received power from the transmitter. 
     
     
       19. A system for receiving wireless power, comprising:
 means for wirelessly receiving power from a transmitter at a level sufficient to power or charge a load; 
 means for providing the received power to the load; 
 means for comparing the level of the received power with a threshold power value; 
 means for adjusting the level of current being provided to the load based at least in part on the comparison; and 
 means for sending to the transmitter a request to change the level of the received power to a different power level subsequent to adjusting the level of the current. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the wirelessly receiving means and the means comprise a power receiver circuit, wherein the comparing means and the adjusting means comprise a processor circuit, and wherein the sending means comprises a communication circuit. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the sending means comprises means for sending a request to increase or decrease the level of the received power without indicating a power level to be adjusted. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 means for rectifying the received power and outputting a direct current (DC) power; and 
 means for providing the DC power to the load. 
 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the load comprises a battery connected to a battery charger and at least one system component, and wherein the adjusting the level of the current adjusts an output voltage of the rectifying means. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the adjusting means comprises means for discharging the battery, when the amount of power required by the system component is greater than an entire amount of the received power.